Improvement in dummy-figures



2 Sheets-*Sheet 1.

JFAQ GILLOTTE.

Dummy-Figure.

No. 216,610. Patented June 17, 1879'.

PEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

J. A. GILLOTTE. Dummy-Figure.

No. 216,610. Patented June 17, 1879.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITIIOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. GILLOT TE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN DUMMY-FIGURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,6 [0, dated June 17, 1879; application filed March 19, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

garment or garments in close imitation of the living form.

The parts to which I have applied the invention are the bust, waist, and hips; but it is easy, if preferred, to extend the figure down to embrace the entire skirt.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I esteem the best manner of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a front view of my finished dummy. Fig. 2 is a back view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view showing the shape, in a plane condition, of the strips required for the right half of the improved metallic bust.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A A, 820., are strips of sheet metal extending up and down the figure, gored and conformed to the figure required. These strips are applied and firmly fastened together at their edges by rivets B. Soldering may be used instead of rivets, or in addition thereto, if desired. At the adjoining edges one edge is lapped over the other to a nearly or quite uniform extent throughout the length of the joint. The edge which goes under is snipped, to enable the material to conform to the contour of the figure.

To produce my figure, I take a roll or sufficiently large piece of sheet-zinc, or other cleanly and sufficiently-flexible sheet metal, and, having produced or procured by any ordinary or suitable means paper patterns of the proper contour for the several parts of a dress for the given figure, apply these paper patterns on the metal, and chalk or otherwise mark around them. Then, after allowing for underlap, I

proceed to cut the sheet metal with stout shears or other suitable devices. In one of the strips, A both edges are underlapped. In another strip, A both edges are overlapped. In the others each has one edge underlapped and the other overlapped relatively to the adj acent piece. In each case I snip or cross-slit the edge of the metal of the under lap to a depth nearly or quite equal to the extent of the under lap. The edges of the pieces which appear on the exterior surface form the lines for the seams. of the finished garment. cutting the cloth therefor enough should be allowed each side thereof for seams.

My sheet-metal figure has great rigidity and reliability of form, and may be made at small cost in great perfection. only all the ordinary uses of a dummy-figure in fitting dresses prior to trying them on the living person of the same size and figure, and

' thus effect a saving in time, but the seams formed by the edges of a single thickness of sheet metal lying upon the under lap of the adjacent piece, while they are not sufficient to affect the fitting of the dress or to present any appearance to the eye on the exterior of the dress, are sufficiently marked to aid the fingers in feeling the exact position of the several seams through one or more thicknesses of fabric, and-thus to aid in determining the corrections which may be required in all those garments which have corresponding seams.

I believe that the invention will be of great use not only to persons who are in the business of manufacturing garments either in large or small quantities, and in exhibiting them to customers, but that many persons of wealth in private life, and particularly professional ladies, as actresses, who require numerous changes of garments, may greatly economize time and labor by their employment. In these latter cases each lady should have a dummy made to conform to her size and, figure, and the several garment-s for her use, being skillfully fitted upon the dummy, will exactly fit when they are applied on the person.

Where riveting is not employed, and the edges are joined by soldering, it may be pref- It will serve not erable to seam the edges in a manner familiar to sheet-metal workers, so as to make a stronger joint and to hold the material firmly in place while the soldering is being effected.

It will be seen that as I have the several strips or parts of my dummy in its original plane condition, except the narrow portion at its extreme edge which goes under, the figure is not of the rounded form theoretically desirable, but a figure of polygonal section approximatin g the desired roundness. This is an advantage.

The fabric for the garment being always somewhat superior to the sheet metal in its capacity to dish or concave, the garment cut by the lines in my dummy can be relied on to make an easy fit without straining the fabric in the act of adapting itself to the form.

I claim- The dummy-figuredescribed, composed of strips of sheet metal out in the required con tour, snipped or eross-slitted along the under laps, and joined, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March, 1879, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. GILLOTTE.

WVitnesses:

W. OoLBoRNE BRooKEs, CHARLES C. STETsoN. 

